*연구과제명: 마음챙김, 마음챙김 지도와 윤리적 이슈
-연구 기관: 강원대학교 의과대학 정신건강의학교실, KAIST 명상과학연구소 (연구팀)
-저자: 이강욱, 김윤희
Mindfulness, originally rooted in Buddhist traditions, has rapidly expanded into diverse secular domains including healthcare, education, and corporate environments. This paper explores the ethical issues and considerations that arise in the teaching and application of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs). As mindfulness becomes increasingly commercialized and instrumental ized for productivity or profit, its foundational ethical dimensions risk being overlooked. The discussion first examines the tension between secular and Buddhist approaches, emphasizing the importance of maintaining authenticity and ethical awareness amid adaptation. It then ad dresses the need for transparency and informed consent, especially concerning potential adverse psychological effects and the implicit religious or spiritual influences of mindfulness practice. Practical ethical dilemmas within corporate and military contexts are also analyzed, highlight ing conflicts between non-instrumental values and organizational goals. The paper further critiques the individualistic and reductionist trends of modern MBIs that neglect relational and communal dimensions. To address these challenges, it proposes ethical safeguards grounded in professional codes, value-based work, and the cultivation of compassion. The competence of mindfulness teachers—encompassing theoretical understanding, embodied presence, and trauma sensitivity—is emphasized as a critical determinant of both safety and transformative potential. Through this multidimensional exploration, the paper argues that ethical reflection is not an optional supplement but a foundational element in sustaining the integrity, authenticity, and transformative power of mindfulness in contemporary contexts.
*연구과제명: 마음챙김, 마음챙김 지도와 윤리적 이슈
-연구 기관: 강원대학교 의과대학 정신건강의학교실, KAIST 명상과학연구소 (연구팀)
-저자: 이강욱, 김윤희
Mindfulness, originally rooted in Buddhist traditions, has rapidly expanded into diverse secular domains including healthcare, education, and corporate environments. This paper explores the ethical issues and considerations that arise in the teaching and application of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs). As mindfulness becomes increasingly commercialized and instrumental ized for productivity or profit, its foundational ethical dimensions risk being overlooked. The discussion first examines the tension between secular and Buddhist approaches, emphasizing the importance of maintaining authenticity and ethical awareness amid adaptation. It then ad dresses the need for transparency and informed consent, especially concerning potential adverse psychological effects and the implicit religious or spiritual influences of mindfulness practice. Practical ethical dilemmas within corporate and military contexts are also analyzed, highlight ing conflicts between non-instrumental values and organizational goals. The paper further critiques the individualistic and reductionist trends of modern MBIs that neglect relational and communal dimensions. To address these challenges, it proposes ethical safeguards grounded in professional codes, value-based work, and the cultivation of compassion. The competence of mindfulness teachers—encompassing theoretical understanding, embodied presence, and trauma sensitivity—is emphasized as a critical determinant of both safety and transformative potential. Through this multidimensional exploration, the paper argues that ethical reflection is not an optional supplement but a foundational element in sustaining the integrity, authenticity, and transformative power of mindfulness in contemporary contexts.